Flood prevention scheme costs rise following delays

The cost of a multi-million pound project toprevent flooding in part of Barry has spiralled

The cost of a multi-million pound project to prevent flooding in parts of Barry has spiralled.

News of the increase in costs for the Coldbrook Catchment Flood Risk Management Scheme comes almost four years to the day that parts of the Coldbrook area of the town were hit by a flash flood on July 2007.

In two hours on that day more than 100 houses in Coldbrook were flood as torrential rain hit the town.

But technical complications and concerns that the flood risk could be worse than at first thought have forced a revision of the scheme and a subsequent increase in costs.

Latest figures which will be presented to Vale council leaders on Monday show that the overall scheme will cost £474,000 more than originally planned.

Work is already underway in a bid to prevent a repeat of flooding in Coldbrook and has included the removal of trees to widen the existing water course and reduce the ground level.

The project aims to lessen flows at the upper end of the catchment to allow for a slower release of excess water into the lower catchment.

Council leaders have been asked to approve the amended project which will see £2,341,000 spent in 2014/15and £2,033 spent in 2015/16.

In his report to next week’s meeting of the council’s cabinet, Councillor Rob Curtis, cabinet member for the environment and visible services says: “Technical issues surrounding the detailed design and development phase have delayed the start of construction by two years, resulting in a partial redesign of the scheme and an increase in overall scheme costs.”

He continues: “The detailed design phase of the scheme is now nearing completion and expressions of interest are again being sought for the construction works.

“The revised catchment model, produced following the latest guidance provided by Natural Resources Wales, identifies an even higher level of flood risk within the catchment than previously predicted.

“The original scheme design would have delivered a reduction in flood risk but not to the desired one in 100 year, plus 20% climate change allowance, standard of service.

“A complete review of the scheme design was therefore undertaken to establish the performance of the proposed scheme and to ensure no detriment elsewhere in the catchment under a range of scenarios.

“The new redesigned scheme now incorporates increased storage capacity in the upper catchment and increased conveyance capacity lower in the system to deliver the required one in 100 year plus 20% standard of service.”

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